Saturday afternoon – watched part 1 of Steven Soderbergh’s Che.   It’s far from a perfect film and yet I thought it was a terrific accomplishment, not the least of which was because of the epic scope compared to the budget and amount of time in which it was shot. It was digitally shot using a prototype of the new RED camera system.

Based on Guevara’s own memoir, the film plays out more like a police procedural than a political diatribe.  Want to know how the revolution went from four guys sitting around a table having dinner in Mexico City to victory in Cuba?  You get this, step by step, very detailed.  The battle scenes seem to be staged very authentically and as a result, there are very few really emotional moments in the film.  This is the idealistic version of Che, the revolutionary who is honestly trying to do something for the masses no matter the personal cost.  But why Cuba?  The film never tells us.

The 1955-1958 action is intercut with grainy black and white footage restaging Guevara’s visit to New York City and his address to the United Nations.  One could called this “Years of Triumph” I suppose – Part 2 covers the attempt to bring revolution to Bolivia that ended in his death.

Benicio Del Toro is in almost every shot of the film and gives an amazing performance.  He definitely deserved the acting award he picked up at Cannes.  The entire project was so controversial that it never received distribution in the US and that’s a shame.  As controversial a figure as Che remains, idolize and vilified, an icon on t-shirts around the world, the film deserves to be seen.  Hopefully will get to part 2 by next week.

Saturday night – wasn’t really in the mood to go out.  My ankle was still achy and I’d never gotten around to eating dinner.  Plus for the past week I’ve been going to bed really early – 10 PM early.  But 10 PM rolled around on Saturday night and we got in the car and headed into town to check out The Blue Deuces at the Bridge in Wanchai.   I’m friends with one of Bridge’s owners and besides, I always try to show support for anyone trying to do anything a little different for the local live music scene.

The Blue Deuces come from Taipei – one guy on guitar, another on drums (well, a snare drum, and mostly he held a brush in one hand and shook a maraca in the other).   I caught one set, a selection of mostly classic blues tunes as well as one song from Dylan and, somewhat incongruously, a Dr. Hook song.  Here’s a small selection of photos from the evening.

Couldn’t stay for more than one set.  Simply too tired at that point and the two drinks I had hit me quickly, probably because I hadn’t had dinner.

Sunday we watched It’s Complicated,  a rom-com starring Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin.  Suffice to say, this is a true “chick flick” and one that had only a few moments that appealed to me.  Earlier in the week watched Whip It, the first feature film directed by Drew Barrymore.  Barrymore assembled a great cast – Ellen Page, Marcia Gay Harden, Daniel Stern, Juliette Lewis, Jimmy Fallon – for a movie that is horribly predictable but mildly entertaining.

I’ve also been enjoying Durutti Column’s “A Paean to Wilson,” a mostly instrumental double disc set paying tribute to Factory Records’ founder Tony Wilson – lovely and haunting.  And Hot Rats, named for the Zappa album, two guys from Supergrass do a broad collection of covers and it’s mostly wacky fun.  Cheryl Cole is depressing because it’s so fucking ordinary and seems to be selling well.

Tomorrow, I think my ankle’s in good enough shape for a trip to Macau.  Haven’t decided if we should stay for two nights or three, have basically decided on staying at the Star World Hotel – the MGM Grand is looking mighty appealing but also costs noticeably more.  I’ve got maps of walking tours printed out, the Michelin guide packed away, I’m ready to go!

Oh, Kathryn Bigelow just won the Directors Guild award for Hurt Locker.  I think she’s the first female winner of the award.  And she beat out her ex-husband, one James Cameron.  Well deserved, we’ll be seeing her at the Oscars.